OBAMA MOUNTS ACA DEFENSE — After watching his health care law get beat up pretty badly this year, it’s President Barack Obama’s turn to go on the offensive. Obama will speak from the White House this afternoon about the ACA’s effects “on the heath, lives and pocketbooks of women and their families,” the White House said. The event, scheduled for 2:40 p.m., will feature reps from women’s groups, including Planned Parenthood.

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TAVENNER WILL GET SENATE VOTE — Senators yesterday agreed to move ahead with a confirmation vote for CMS acting administrator Marilyn Tavenner. The vote hasn’t been scheduled, but it won’t happen before Tuesday, Pro’s Jennifer Haberkorn reports. Senators will have one hour of debate before the vote.

Happy Friday and welcome to PULSE, where we’ve learned that in addition to fighting crime, Batman will also fight the individual mandate. Val Kilmer, who portrayed the Caped Crusader in 1995’s “Batman Forever,” tweeted ( http://politi.co/12h91pj) this week that he was on the Hill lobbying for the EACH Act, which would broaden religious exemption to the individual mandate.

“With so much drama in the L.B.C., it’s kinda hard bein’ PULSE D-O-double-G”

TODAY ON POLITICO PRO:

--KENTUCKY GOVERNOR BACKS EXPANSION, KNOCKS ARKANSAS PLAN — As expected, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear formally announced Thursday that he supports the ACA’s Medicaid expansion. At the same time, Beshear criticized the Arkansas plan to purchase private exchange coverage for the expansion population as unaffordable. http://politico.pro/YIlOm4

--OKLAHOMA UNLIKELY TO EXPAND MEDICAID IN TIME FOR 2014 LAUNCH — Medicaid expansion looks like a longshot in Oklahoma this year, Gov. Mary Fallin’s administration warned Thursday, the same day a consultant’s report recommended pursuing a private-sector version of expansion. http://politico.pro/YIsUae

UTAH NEARING EXCHANGE AGREEMENT WITH FEDS — Gov. Gary Herbert says Utah and HHS are close to an agreement for the state to run its existing small business exchange as the state’s SHOP program, while HHS will run the individual exchange and administer the ACA tax credits. The bottom line: It’s pretty much what Herbert’s been asking for over the past three-plus years. “I trust that our offices will continue to work together, as we prepare an agreement that allows for flexibility to meet the needs of Utah residents,” he wrote in a Thursday letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. However, Herbert — who’s scheduled to brief reporters today — remains firm that Utah can’t and won’t share data with the federal hub. The Herbert letter: http://politico.pro/11WGmUN

ARKANSAS: GOOD FOR KENTUCKY — After Kentucky rejected the Arkansas-style expansion, Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe’s spokesman replied that the state’s expansion model isn’t for everyone. “We’re glad to see that Kentucky has found a Medicaid expansion option that works well for its people,” said the spokesman, Matt DeCample. “While we know that a lot of states are looking at the Arkansas Private Option during their deliberations, every state’s circumstances are different. In Arkansas, our independent analysis showed that the Private Option will likely be far less costly for us than the preliminary CBO estimates.”

IDAHO BOARD SPLIT ON WORKING WITH FEDS — Some members of Idaho’s new exchange board yesterday didn’t seem all that thrilled about the prospect of working with the feds on its state-based exchange. Idaho and CCIIO have been in talks about how the newly formed exchange can use pieces of the federal infrastructure to get going while still allowing Idaho to call itself a state-based exchange. But some members of the exchange board, including two lawmakers who supported this year’s exchange bill, said the whole purpose of creating an Idaho-based exchange was to avoid federal interaction. “The Legislature is not interested,” said state Sen. Jim Rice during an exchange board meeting yesterday. Other board members acknowledged the impending Oct. 1 open enrollment date might not give the exchange any choice but to lean on the feds. The POLITICO story: http://politi.co/15SE5jM

SENATE PANEL PUSHES STRONGER COMPOUNDING RULES — The Senate HELP Committee yesterday built the case for giving the FDA broader authority to regulate compounding pharmacies, promising to pass a bill before Memorial Day. The Senate has bipartisan support to beef up FDA oversight of the facilities after the New England Compounding Center was linked to last year’s deadly meningitis outbreak. “Make no mistake, I’m here to tell you, in the absence of changes, this will happen again,” Janet Woodcock, the FDA’s drug chief, testified yesterday. However, things are murkier in the House, where Republicans have blamed the FDA for not using its existing authority. The POLITICO story: http://politi.co/ZTFMZV

CITING GOSNELL, HOUSE JUDICIARY QUESTIONS STATE PROCEDURES — In light of the trial of Philadelphia abortion provider Kermit Gosnell, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Rep. Trent Franks have asked every state attorney general to provide information on how their states prevent newborn homicides. “We have all been shocked by the tragedy in Pennsylvania, and we know many states have strong laws to protect against these types of murders,” they wrote. “We are simply writing to gather information about these laws and to see how the federal government might partner with states to help prevent similar atrocities.” Their letter: http://1.usa.gov/10lek2H

BUSINESSES, TRADE GROUPS BACK AUTO-ENROLLMENT REPEAL — A broad coalition of major retailers, restaurant chains, trade groups and others signed onto a letter yesterday backing repeal of an ACA provision requiring companies with 200 or more employees to automatically sign up their workers for health coverage if they don’t pick their own plan. “We are concerned that automatic enrollment may create additional confusion for our employees in an already complex benefit area, and could result in unnecessary hardship if they find themselves automatically enrolled in a plan in which they do not wish to participate,” read the letter, spearheaded by the Retail Industry Leaders Association, the National Restaurant Association and the Food Marketing Institute. Signers included major chains such as 7-Eleven, Darden Restaurants, Petco, Whole Foods Market and more. North Carolina Republicans Richard Hudson and Robert Pittenger have sponsored House legislation repealing the provision. The letter: http://bit.ly/10vYqIL

HIGH-RISK POOL DEADLINE TODAY — State-run ACA high-risk pools have until today to tell CMS whether they want to continue to run the pools for the last seven months of the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan before it sunsets. States have been worried that CMS’s new proposed contract to run the program will unexpectedly shift costs onto them. If states decide they don’t want to continue running the high-risk pools, enrollees will be transferred into a federal-run PCIP. A CMS fact sheet on the new contracts: http://1.usa.gov/10JcBUQ. An Associated Press story on the conflict between states and the feds: http://bit.ly/17P4KeS.

DRUG SPENDING MAKES HEALTH CARE HISTORY — For the first time in more than 50 years, per-person prescription drug spending fell in 2012, according to an IMS Institute for Healthcare Information study. Total spending per capita fell 3.5 percent, or $33, to $898 — a drop driven by an overall decline in health care use. Generics also played their largest-ever role, accounting for a $29 billion drop in spending last year. Jumping on the news, generic advocates urged the FDA to remove barriers to “biosimilar” competition for costly biologic drugs. “There is even more we can do” to find savings, Generic Pharmaceutical Association CEO Ralph Neas said in a statement. The IMS study: http://bit.ly/16k51s8

ADVAMED’S KARR LAUNCHES NEW FIRM — PR veteran Gary Karr, who previously was vice president of public affairs at AdvaMed, has formed a new media, public relations and policy communications shop, our friends at POLITICO Influence report. Karr Strategic Communications will work with companies, coalitions, trade associations and others in the policy and media spheres. He’ll continue with AdvaMed as an outside consultant.

Need more Tax coverage? POLITICO Pro Tax is perfect for those who need a deeper dive on tax policy and regulatory affairs in Washington. POLITICO Pro Tax is delivered by 6 a.m. to help policy professionals get a jump on the day. In addition to delivering an earlier version of Morning Tax, Pro provides minute-to-minute coverage of the cross section of tax policy and regulation in Washington. For more information, call Pro Services at (703) 341-4600 or email info@politicopro.com.

The Oregonian reports that no sooner had the state posted the first health plan rate hike requests, two insurers in the upper tiers began moving to lower prices to be more competitive. http://bit.ly/176XBbO

Modern Healthcare reports that the AMA says its membership rose 3.2 percent last year, bringing it almost back to the level before it endorsed the health reform legislation. http://bit.ly/10x31tW

The American Heart Association has new advice on cardiovascular health: Get a dog. The NY Well blog post: http://nyti.ms/12hD9Rb

Former football players struggle with NFL over who should pay for injuries and health problems that plague them for years after retirement, The Washington Post reports: http://wapo.st/10m0eOP

On the Health Affairs blog Tim Jost outlines the latest guidance on what businesses have to tell workers about coverage options: http://bit.ly/175yciO

Two makers of cervical cancer vaccines announce price cuts to poorest countries — less than $5 per dose http://nyti.ms/1gJxbw

Former White House health policy official Nancy-Ann DeParle in a Washington Post op-ed notes that people predicted rough rollouts of other major health policy programs — but they worked out. So will Obamacare, she argues. http://wapo.st/10vjHxh

** A message from the American Academy of Dermatology Association: On average, one American dies from melanoma every hour. With studies showing a 75 percent increase in the risk of melanoma in those who have been exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning, the American Academy of Dermatology Association is working closely with regulatory agencies, and both state and federal legislatures to protect the public from the dangers of indoor tanning. SPOT Skin Cancer(TM) is the American Academy of Dermatology’s campaign to create a world without skin cancer through public awareness, community outreach programs and services, and advocacy activities that promote the prevention, detection, and care of skin cancer. This May, commemorate Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month®. Support legislative and regulatory efforts that protect the public from the dangers of indoor tanning: http://www.aad.org/member-tools-and-benefits/aada-advocacy/federal-legislative-affairs/congressional-indoor-tanning-action. **

CORRECTION: A previous version of Pulse misstated the purpose of the EACH Act. It would broaden the religious exemption to the individual mandate.

** A message from PhRMA: Diabetes is a complex disease affecting more than 30 million Americans – with one-in-ten living in DC, Maryland and Virginia having the disease. Thanks to advances in diabetes care, patients around the country are living longer, healthier lives. Take five-year-old Rhys for example [link to his I’m Not Average profile]. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 15-months-old, but today, he is a thriving young boy. This is due in large part to new and innovative medicines developed by researchers and scientists at America’s biopharmaceutical companies. Learn more about the medicines in development for diabetes here. **

Authors:

About The Author

Jason Millman is POLITICO Pro’s associate health care editor. He’s on his second tour of duty at POLITICO after a stint at the Washington Post’s Wonkblog and has covered health care since graduating from Boston University with a journalism degree in 2008.